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PODCAST

Out of the Main

Tom Nixon and John Nixon

“Out of the Main” is a podcast celebrating one of the most proficient and accomplished eras of musicianship and studio production, including yacht rock, west coast AOR, and related sophisticated music from the 1970s and 80s. “Out of the Main” was launched by two of the era"s biggest fans—both musicians themselves—who, like a growing wave of aficionados all around the world, have been exploring the history, the enjoyment, and now the future potential of the West Coast sound, even as it continues to

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All Episodes

00:16:42

S7.E3B: Lightning (Final) Round

Out of the Main ·

2026/04/01

Once again, we ran out of time last week to get to the Lightning Round, so we’re releasing another interim episode this week. John and Tom provide their final reflections on the matchup madness this March, wondering if we got it right, or if you all have nits to pick with the picks. What say you? Did we get it right or wrong? If wrong, tell us who you think should have won, who should’ve been left out of the field, or who the selection committee criminally missed altogether. Let’s hear your take in

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00:35:43

S7.E3: NCAA, Round 2 and Finals! (Video Podcast)

Out of the Main ·

2026/03/26

Round 2 also happens to be the Sleeve Sixteen, Final Four, and Championship Game all in one! Tom and John finish out the 2026 NCAA tournament, just in time to conclude the madness that is March. Reminder: Don’t forget to follow along on your device, as this is another video podcast episode. Who ya got, as the winner of the 2026 Nixon Contest of Album Artwork? Your “One Shining Moment” has arrived!N.B.:Please take a moment to join our Substack. Let’s keep the conversation going!Listen and

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00:16:20

S7.E2B: NCAA, Lightning Round 1

Out of the Main ·

2026/03/18

Well, we ran out of time last week to get to the usual Lightning Round stuff, so we’re releasing an interim episode this week to cover the ground we failed to hoe in the opening round. John and Tom reflect on the first week of the matchup madness, wondering if things may have taken a direction they hadn’t anticipated…and pondering further on what makes for a great album cover. Up for debate: Did album artwork ALSO peak in the 1970s and 80s? Let’s hear your take in the comments on

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00:51:01

S7.E2: The 2026 NCAA Tournament! (Video Podcast)

Out of the Main ·

2026/03/12

It’s March! There’s madness! Around these parts, March brings the usual—an NCAA Tournament! NCAA, this year, stands for the Nixon Competition of Album Artwork. Listen along and follow along as the boys run through the best album covers of the era we cover, eventually counting down to what they believe to be the best album artwork of the time.Want to play at home? This is our first-ever video podcast, so you should be able to follow along on your device, seeing each album cover matchup as we do, in

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00:52:39

S7.E1: Today in Yacht Rock

Out of the Main ·

2026/02/26

We’re back for Season 7! And we’ve brought a special guest with us! John and Tom finally get to unmask the hero who’s been doing yeoman’s work in the field of yacht rock for years: the man behind the Twitter/X handle, “Today in Yacht Rock!” Want to know what happened on this day in yacht rock—or any other day? Johnny Gough from Oxford, MS is your man! John and Tom welcome him on the podcast to hear Johnny tell us his “origin story,” provide the history behind Today in Yacht Rock, and rifle through a

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00:34:03

From the Archives: The Original Christmas Special...

Out of the Main ·

2025/12/22

Bonus content for those who may have missed our very first holiday special, "A Very Yachty Christmas."From the original show notes:Our favorite convention from the late 70s and early 80s: Everything had a Christmas Special! And every year, they would rerun the same holiday special specials and we never got tired of them. It was tradition!Our yacht rock podcast should be no different! John and Tom scour music-dom for the yachtiest yuletide merriment to bring your season glad “tide”-ings,

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00:49:27

S6.E26: The All New Christmas Special!

Out of the Main ·

2025/12/16

The season finale to year six of Out of the Main features an all-new Christmas Special! We’ve done yacht rock Christmas, smooth Christmas, charity Christmas, CCM Christmas…what’s left? How about a trip down memory lane celebrating some of our favorite Christmas music — all genres — from the era we love?N.B.:Here’s Tom’s herein mentioned new “Totally 80s Christmas” playlist.And here’s that incredible live version of “Celebrate Me Home,” featuring Steve George and Marc Russo, among others.Listen and

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00:49:36

S6.E25: Perfect Album Side? - Duran Duran, Side 1

Out of the Main ·

2025/12/04

Back with another “Perfect Album Sides” episode, John and Tom discuss and dissect Duran Duran’s debut record, but wait—this gets confusing. We’ll look at the 1983 American reissue of the band’s 1981 premiere, which has difference mixes, different tracks, different track names, and different, well…just about everything. As a matter of fact, the very reissue is a different reissue than the FIRST U.S reissue of the same album! All of that said, can it truly be a “perfect” album side? Let the debate

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00:42:42

S6.E24: Strings Attached

Out of the Main ·

2025/11/20

What role did strings play in pop rock music (and the like) in the 70s and 80s, and how did that differ from what came before and what was to come after? Like most things, strings took on a new art form and played a new role during the slice of recorded music history we celebrate around here. By listener suggestion, Tom and John walk through the nerdy details and share some of their favorite applications of strings in music from the heyday—yes…even in yacht rock!Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the

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00:37:51

S6.E23: Deeper Dive: Paul Davis

Out of the Main ·

2025/11/06

How much do you really know about the artist Paul Davis? Did you know, for example, that he once held the Guinness Record for most consecutive weeks in the top 40? Well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Join us this week for a deeper dive into Paul Davis, and see if you don’t just come away surprised by a “fun fact” or two!N.B.:Read the article in Mix Online about the making of Paul’s hit song “I Go Crazy.Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠.Referenced and

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00:42:19

S6.E22: This Is How You Duet

Out of the Main ·

2025/10/23

Did our favorite era of music also include the peak of the duet as well? When you think of all-time great duets, which songs come to mind? John and Tom discuss what makes for a great duet, in their view, and explore why the 70s and 80s were perhaps the Golden Age of the Duet (as was the case with so many other things!). 👉 The guys count down each of their 10 favorite duets from the day. Which did we miss? Let us know on our Facebook page and post for this episode!Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the

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00:42:16

S6.E21: Three-Album Runs

Out of the Main ·

2025/10/09

The Rule of Three. Does it apply to albums from the golden era of rock and roll? Let’s explore! Sure to generate some discussion and debate, help us identify the Rise, Peak, and Fall in three-album runs from the 70s and 80s!N.B.:Give us your thoughts (and a follow!) on our Facebook page when we post about this episode!Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠.Referenced and Related:⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock

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00:47:28

S6.E20: Sleepwalking Again, with Ole Børud

Out of the Main ·

2025/09/25

Ole Børud rejoins the podcast, this time to give Tom, John and listeners of Out of the Main a sneak peek at Ole’s new record, dropping September 26th. “Sleepwalking Again” drops everywhere, and you should drop everything to give it a spin, stream, download…and pick up the physical format! Tune in this week to hear the stories behind the record, including a collab with yacht rock legends you all know and love!N.B.:Here’s our first interview with Ole.Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of

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00:45:27

S6.E19: Buried Treasures, 80s Edition

Out of the Main ·

2025/09/11

By now you’re familiar with the concept of “buried treasures.” Well, as we coast out of summer and into fall, Tom and John provide their takes on an all-80s-inspired Buried Treasures episode (not yacht). They each approached it a bit differently, but tune in, if you care or dare!N.B.:Here’s Tom’s playlist of the songs that made into this episode, followed by those that did not.Here’s Tom’s broader “Buried Treasures” playlist (all eras and genres)Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of

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00:49:16

S6.E18: Feeling Plucky, with J-M Sutcliffe

Out of the Main ·

2025/08/28

Super db’s J-M Sutcliffe returns to the podcast, this time to demonstrate various rhythm guitar techniques, most notably the single-note palm mute that so permeates yacht rock and the like. Or, as Tom likes to call them, “the plucky plucks.”Want to see the plucky plucks in action? Be sure to watch the video version this week. Link to our YouTube channel below. Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠.Referenced and Related:⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the

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00:52:33

S6.E17: In Memoriam: Chuck Mangione

Out of the Main ·

2025/08/14

Accomplished trumpeteer and flugelhornist Tony Guerrero joins the podcast to help us remember the recently lost legend that was Chuck Mangione. Having had the opportunity to play with both Grant Geissman and Charles Meeks, the man knows of where he speaks! Tune in to help us celebrate the life of one of music’s greatest maestros. Rest in peace.N.B.: Check out Tony’s touching tribute here.Check out Tony jamming with Grand Geissman!https://www.tonyguerrero.comPost:

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00:39:35

S6.E16: Odds and Ends

Out of the Main ·

2025/07/31

Typically reserved for the end of the year, the decks needed clearing in July this year. Tom and John rifle through some stored up odds, ends and tidbits full of miscellany, potpourri and sundry. John spends most of his time re-litigating the Jeff Lynne content, as is his won’t. Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠.Referenced and Related:⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock

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00:46:53

S6.E15: ELO + Jeff Lynne, Part II

Out of the Main ·

2025/07/17

In Part Two of our two-part episode, John and Tom explore the rest of the timeline in ELO’s run and the later career of Jeff Lynne, both as solo artist and highly sought after producer. There most certainly was a “Jeff Lynne Signature Sound,” and we’ll dig through it all this week!Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice here⁠.Referenced and Related:⁠⁠Playlist of songs featured on Out of the Main⁠⁠⁠John’s Spotify Yacht Rock Playlist⁠⁠⁠⁠Tom’s Spotify Yacht Rock

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00:57:39

S6.E14: Artist Exploration: ELO + Jeff Lynne

Out of the Main ·

2025/07/10

Hello, Mr. Radio! You can’t have a podcast about music artistry and sophistication and not cover Jeff Lynne at some point. In Part One of our two-part episode, John and Tom explore the career of Jeff Lynne — before during and after Electric Light Orchestra. Tune in to learn the tricks of the trade, the science behind the madness, and the man behind some of the most interesting music in history. Surprise! It peaked in the mid-70s and early 80s!N.B.: Check out Prince’s guitar solo in While My Guitar

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00:39:37

S6.E13: Flying Solo, Five on Five

Out of the Main ·

2025/06/26

Did the art of the solo in pop/rock music peak between 1975 and 1985? And why did it become something of a lost art thereafter? John and Tom discuss the history and importance of the solo (any instrument) in modern music history, each sharing five of their favorite solos for purposes of demonstration and admiration. What do you think are the elements of a quintessential solo in pop/rock music? And where have all the good times gone? Listen and Subscribe:⁠Find the podcast platform of your choice

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